President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated this Saturday the works to convert the Maya Train into a cargo and merchandise transportation system. The initial investment in this project is 25 billion pesos. An investment of more than 12 billion pesos was also announced for the expansion of the Progreso port in Yucatan, on the Atlantic, with the aim of fostering new investments and facilitating exports.
Sheinbaum reiterated her commitment to expand the Maya Train, an infrastructure of 1,553 kilometers of tracks that was promoted by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024). This project covers the southeastern states: Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatán, and will connect with the train of the Interoceanic Corridor, another plan by López Obrador that aims to link the Pacific with the Atlantic.
The president emphasized that the expansion of the Maya Train for cargo will increase development in southeastern Mexico, beyond the tourist focus that it has had so far. Since its inauguration in December 2023, the Maya Train has transported approximately 1.2 million passengers. Sheinbaum highlighted that cargo transportation will enhance efficiency in the transportation of products throughout the country.
Regarding the details of the plan, the project is being executed by the Army, responsible for the administration of the Maya Train. Ten cargo complexes are planned, including intermodal terminals, operation yards, and a fuel spur. Commander Gustavo Ricardo Vallejo specified that the work will be carried out in two phases, generating 26,000 direct jobs and completing within a timeframe of 2 and a half years.
Since taking office last October, Sheinbaum has announced a public investment of 150 billion pesos in 2025 for the construction of 3,000 kilometers of passenger trains during her term from 2024 to 2030. The president plans to expand the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Corridor to Guatemala to establish industrial hubs between Mexico and Central America, aiming to address migration and meet the demands of the United States government.
